The downtown is the heart of our community. It is an important community space, where all members of our community gather for parades and community events. The City, Main Street Beatrice, the Beatrice Area Chamber of Commerce, NGage, and local business and property owners have diligently been working to revitalize our downtown.
Over the past 15 years, many improvements have been made to the downtown:
2009 – Carnegie Building Restoration
2013 – Traubel Popcorn Stand Installed
2015 – 2nd Street Rebuilt
2017 – Grant Funded Façade Improvements (14 properties)
2019 – Chief Standing Bear Trail Built
2020 – First Mural Painted
2021 – River Access Installed
2021 – New Fire Station Built
2021 – Second Mural Painted
2022 – Gage County Foundation Depot Installed
2023 – Grant Funded Façade Improvements (12 properties)
This year the City will be acquiring several lots near 5th Street and Perkins Street adjacent to the Gage County Foundation Depot. There the City will install a sponge park. Sponge parks are designed to absorb and manage excess surface water runoff. It will serve as an example of stormwater best management practices.
Another improvement that is being talked about currently is the rerouting of Highway 136 and the beautification of Court Street. This idea was originally floated around 2011-2012. Recently there has been a growing number of citizens that have asked to revisit this idea. The City has retained Olsson to study what improvements could be made to Court Street if it was no longer a state highway. Public meetings will be hosted to receive feedback from community members about what they would like to see if the highway is relocated. The first such meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 27, 2023, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the City Auditorium, 205 N. 4th Street, Beatrice, Nebraska. I invite all of you to come to this meeting and share your thoughts on the rerouting of Highway 136 and the beautification of Court Street.
Tobias Tempelmeyer
City Administrator